Title: Tainted
Author: Mel Harry Potter
Rating: R
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasely
Warnings: Spoilers for HBP! Violence, Adult Themes.
Summary: Silence is Golden
Disclaimer: The World of Harry Potter belongs to miss Rowling. I'm just boring it
Author's Notes: 'Tainted' is a rewrite of a very old story by the same name. Very few of you will remember it, and this is completely different from the original story.
Contains spoilers for Half-Blood Prince
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Tainted
-I walk a lonely road,
The only one that I have ever known-
Green Day
No one was sure what to make of any of it.
It had been three long, hellish weeks. Weeks where no one was sure of anything. Three weeks where the savior of the wizarding world had disappeared.
Things were already so frightening. You Know Who had taken it into his own to order raid after raid. With the death of Albus Dumbledore their world had come to a stand still. No one could step into his shoes and without him, those faithful floundered for support they could not find. Witches and Wizards died. Muggles were caught up and soon it would all spill into their world. There was nothing that could be done.
When news leaked out that Harry Potter was missing, he'd already disappeared for a week. A sketchy article reviled that his muggle home was destroyed. The three bodies of his Muggle family found, destroyed practically beyond recognition. Nothing remained of the place that Mr. Potter had called home for seventeen years. It was speculated that He Who Must Not be named had found the house and destroyed it. After all, what other explanation could there be? And with no sign of Mr. Potter, the worst was assumed.
However, the raids were starting to follow a distinct pattern by this point. Not random slaughter as it had been. Instead, they too seemed to be searching for the Boy Who Lived.
Everyone could only wait. Those who had an eye for these sorts of things kept their ear to the ground, waiting for the merest whisper of Mr. Potter's reappearance. Those who knew him well searched. Those who wanted him dead slaughtered in the hopes of drawing him back out.
Ginny Weasely's broken body being strung from the roof of number 12 Grimmauld Place was thought to be enough of an incentive. He still did not appear.
With the world falling apart, Hagrid, the keeper of the keys at Hogwarts, woke early one morning to the sound of tapping against his door. Fang was snuffing at the door, not barking happily, but not growling either. Still Hagrid had gone the door, wand in hand, opening it slowly.
Harry Potter stood on his doorstep.
Hagrid didn't say anything, staring in shock at the small slip of a boy that stood before him. He wore a white shirt that was some sizes too big, probably belonged to his cousin on later thought. Only one button remained and was hanging on a very loose bit of string. It was opened all the way, blackened from smoke, singed by fire. There was dried blood soaked into the hem, splattered all over the fabric.
He looked as if he hadn't eaten for the three weeks he had been missing, frail beneath the one piece of clothing. His glasses remained, one lens shattered in a spider's web, hanging to the frame. Patches of his hair were missing, but all though his seemed blackened my smoke and smudged with dirt, there was not a scratch on him. Except his scar, which was dripping fresh blood down his face.
Hagrid did not stop to think, grabbing the swaying boy in a crushing hug he fell to his knees, sobbing into his neck. Time stood still and it took a long time until Hagrid realised Harry was not holding him back. That there were no shared tears. That Harry Potter had not made a sound since Hagrid had seen him.
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"Harry!"
Hagrid woke in his armchair at the startled gasp. He blinked groggily as he realised the pre dawn light was spilling into his hut. He glared at Fang, who was lying on Hagrid's big bed where Harry should have been still sleeping.
"Some guard dog ye'v turned out ta be!" Hagrid grumbled, not really blaming the dog. It was hard to, they'd both become too use to Harry's silence; they both had fallen into the quiet as well. Days had pasted and Hagrid hadn't been able to bring himself to let anyone know that Harry was safe and sound.
Because he didn't think Harry was safe, or sound. He still had not made a sound. His eyes had only just started to show a spark of life. He was only just reacting to his own name. With every day that passed, Hagrid promised he'd owl McGonagall or that he'd floo to the Order of the Phoenix's temporary headquarters. Each day it got harder. Harry was coming along fine without all the fussing; soon he'd be himself again.
The only time he'd shown any real life was when Hagrid had tried to get the big white shirt from him. Hagrid had only wanted to wash it, but Harry's reaction had been violent. His eyes had widened, his skin going an ashen colour. His mouth had distorted in a soundless scream. Then the wind picked up, slamming his door practicly off its hinges, sending Fang scurrying under the bed. Hagrid could feel razor sharp barbs slash through his clothes and skin. Harry's eyes had begun to roll back, only the whites showing, when Hagrid took a step back, letting go of the clothing.
Harry had slumped to the floor at that point and didn't wake for a few hours.
Hagrid had been shaken, unable to do anything but fix the door he the sat and watched the young man who had become his friend sleep. If Harry could not look after himself, Hagrid resolved, he'd look after him. When he woke Hagrid soaked the shirt with Harry still in it, giving the wizard a much needed clean at the same time. Harry allowed himself to be dressed in some pants that Hagrid found, but the shirt stayed. Hagrid tacked the sole button into place and found others to sew back on. Harry ate very little, but still it the giant had been relieved to see him eat something.
Harry didn't speak, or even smile, but Hagrid was beginning to see a little spark in those eyes when Harry had refused too eat any of the sprouts he had cooked with dinner. Then again when it had rained a little the morning before. He hoped beyond all else that it was the old Harry coming back, and leave this little marionette behind.
He hoped his patients had not been wasted as young Hermione Granger stared in shock on the other side of the door.
She fell forward; Harry took a step back, in reflex. He would shy away from any touch now. Hermione held onto the baggy trousers, her forehead resting against his knees as she sobbed brokenly. Hagrid knew Harry's disappearance had frightened everyone. But none more so then his best friends, Hermione and Ron Weasley.
Harry just stood there, watching her, his eyes showing a faint spark before it died away. Hagrid could only wonder if it was Hermione or her tears that sparked a reaction from him. It was gone now though and Hagrid sighed, standing, putting the kettle on and getting some porridge ready. He gave Hermione time to cry, his reaction had been much the same after all.
"Where have you been?" She breathed into his knees. "Merlin Harry, where have you been?"
Hagrid tried not to be disappointed when Harry didn't answer. Sighing Hagrid hunted for a third mug. Harry could smell the tea as Hagrid strained it and he slipped from Hermione's grip, padding through the house to sit at the table. Hagrid smiled gently, ruffling his hair as he gave him his cup. When he was sure Harry was actually drinking and not just sniffing the burning liquid, he went to Hermione.
She was staring at Harry, tears still leaking from her eyes and her mouth hanging open. Hagrid knelt beside her, stroking her hair that had grown longer over the summer.
"Come hav' some tea 'Mione." He was able to pick her up, setting her lightly on her feet. He closed the door, leading her to the table. She watched Harry but he ignored her, as he had Hagrid the last few days.
"Harry?" She sounded very lost as she spoke, "what happened to you?"
"He doesn't speak 'Mione, not a word." Hagrid he put a bowl in front of both of them. Hermione didn't even look at it while Hagrid sat beside Harry, trying to get him to eat the food. "He doesn't even react ta anythin' anymore. Not his name or the sound of me voice."
"He needs a medi witch, Hagrid." Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes, her practicality kicking in. "They'll help him-"
Hagrid snorted, Harry took another spoonful of the food. "Try reparin' those glasses, 'Moine."
Hermione stopped, noticing the glasses that balanced on Harry's nose were shattered. She wondered why Hagrid had not done the spell himself; all first years learnt it back to front. She cast the spell absentmindedly. Nothing happened. She blinked and cast it again, and then a third time to be sure. She looked at her wand as if it had failed her.
"It won't work," Hagrid told her, "I've tried a hundred times. An' there's not a scratch in him, but he was covered in soot like he'd been through fire. His scar was bleedin' too when he got here. He won't let me take off this shirt either; it's the only time he reacts to anything." Harry moved away from the next spoon, he'd eaten half the bowl though so Hagrid didn't press the issue. "Whateve' happened to Harry, no spells can fix."
Hermione stared at Harry, he really did appear fine and well, except there was no smile, no interest in anything around them. "There must be someone who can help you." It was doubtful, with the war resources were thin. So many wizard, witches and Muggles were dead. Even if they could think of someone there was really no way they could spend what could take years to cure Harry. If only Dumbledore was still-
Gasping Hermione's eyes widened, "Hagrid! I almost forgot! They've found him!"
"Him?" Hagrid looked perplexed, his bushy eyebrows drawing together. "Who?"
"Draco!"
Behind her something shattered.
